City approaches ‘homelessness cliff’

Little affordable housing planned, existing stock diminishes

Floyd Perras for the Winnipeg Sun

First posted:
Tuesday, January 01, 2013 05:22 PM CST

Madison Lodge — Siloam Mission was able to move out 26 people from its emergency overnight shelter into their own rooms at the Madison Lodge this past year — many of whom had stayed in our shelter for more than two years because they couldn’t find a place they could actually afford, says Perras. (Courtesy Siloam Mission)

While the fiscal cliff and economic certainty seems to hang over the world heading into 2013, there is another cliff approaching fast in Winnipeg: the homelessness cliff.

In 2012, welfare rates in Manitoba remained the same — virtually unchanged since the early 1990s — while food costs rose 2%.

You do the math: A single person on social assistance receives $485 per month to cover housing, food, clothing, laundry, phone and transportation. The average bachelor suite in Winnipeg costs $526 per month.

That’s if you can find a suite.

With the city’s paltry vacancy rate remaining steady, it was a tough year for low-income earners trying to find affordable housing. Siloam Mission was able to move out 26 people from its emergency overnight shelter into their own rooms at the Madison Lodge this past year — many of whom had stayed in our shelter for more than two years because they couldn’t find a place they could actually afford.

So why do I say we are approaching a homelessness cliff?

There is little affordable housing planned for 2013, while existing stock diminishes each year through condo conversions and rooming-house fires. Food prices are projected to climb another 3.5% this next year.

Governments on all levels are looking at cuts. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to balance our budgets on the backs of the poor. And then there’s 170 people who are at risk of becoming homeless come March 2013.

Five years ago, the federal government started a research project in five Canadian cities, including Winnipeg, to determine whether housing and supports would make a difference for those struggling with mental health illness while experiencing homelessness.

In Winnipeg, the focus is on those who are aboriginal.

Currently, there are 170 people who have been housed through the project and receive supports to maintain them. Many of those people would otherwise be occupying emergency shelters.

At the end of March 2013, that study will come to an end — and so will the housing supplement and supports that keep them housed. Participants in the study were given $500 specifically for rent instead of $285 that welfare would provide.

Along with that, each participant connected with support staff that helped them with their life situation. I have talked to a few participants who have been on the streets for years, but are now very successful in the program because of those additional supports.

Overall costs

The overall costs were about $14,000 a year per person. There’s little doubt most, if not all, participants will end up homeless again.

As you can imagine, shelters in the city are already at capacity. There is only so much they can do with limited resources and funding.

So far, there has been no commitment from any level of government to ensure we can avoid the homelessness cliff come the end of March.

I don’t know what your New Year yew’s resolutions are, but mine will be to advocate stronger for those who experience homelessness and for those on the verge of becoming homeless.

In the meantime, shelters are going to have to try finding room for another 170 people.

City approaches ‘homelessness cliff’

Little affordable housing planned, existing stock diminishes

While the fiscal cliff and economic certainty seems to hang over the world heading into 2013, there is another cliff approaching fast in Winnipeg: the homelessness cliff.

In 2012, welfare rates in Manitoba remained the same — virtually unchanged since the early 1990s — while food costs rose 2%.

You do the math: A single person on social assistance receives $485 per month to cover housing, food, clothing, laundry, phone and transportation. The average bachelor suite in Winnipeg costs $526 per month.

That’s if you can find a suite.

With the city’s paltry vacancy rate remaining steady, it was a tough year for low-income earners trying to find affordable housing. Siloam Mission was able to move out 26 people from its emergency overnight shelter into their own rooms at the Madison Lodge this past year — many of whom had stayed in our shelter for more than two years because they couldn’t find a place they could actually afford.